Department of Transportation 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt six individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti- seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 12 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 103 individuals who requested an exemption from the vision standard in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a CMV in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 12 individuals for an exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) requesting exemptions from the Agency's hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for four new members: Celebration Fireworks, Inc., International Fireworks Mfg. Company, Inc., Johnny Rockets Display Company, and the Wald & Company All American Display Fireworks Company. The first exemption request is from the prohibition on driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) after the 14th hour after the driver comes on duty. APA requests this exemption to allow drivers employed by the four member companies to exclude off- duty and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14-hour limit. The second exemption request is from the HOS regulations that require a motor carrier to install and require each of its drivers to use an electronic logging device (ELD) to record the driver's HOS. APA requests this exemption to allow these same drivers employed by the four members to continue to use paper records of duty status (RODS) in lieu of an ELD during the designated Independence Day periods. If granted, these exemptions would terminate at the same time as the other 53 exempted APA member carriers. The original terms and conditions of the limited exemptions, that ensure a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption, will be upheld by the four new members.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) for a limited exemption from the Agency's commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations. The Ohio DPS requests an exemption to modify the mandatory skills test requirements for qualified veterans who served in the military. The Ohio DPS states that its goal is to promote the opportunities for experienced commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators who have served in the military by reducing the regulatory burden for obtaining a CDL. FMCSA requests public comment on the Ohio DPS's application for exemption. In addition, because the issue concerning the Ohio DPS request could be applicable in each of the States, FMCSA requests public comment on whether the exemption should cover all State driver licensing agencies (SDLAs), if granted.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves Certificated Training Centers. Operators pay Certificated Training Centers to provide training to their employees, typically pilots, on different types of equipment if training is not done in house. The information to be collected is necessary because it allows aviation safety inspectors (operations) to review and to provide surveillance to training centers to ensure compliance with airman training, testing, and certification requirements specified in other parts of the regulations. If the information were not collected, inspectors would not be able to determine if airmen who are clients are being trained, checked or tested to meet the safety standards established in other parts of the regulations. To date, FAA inspectors have used the information collected to determine and assess regulatory compliance during routine program surveillance.

This action corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register of March 1, 2019, that establishes Class E airspace at The Red River Airport, Coushatta, LA. The geographic coordinates of the airport will be amended to be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This notice announces actions taken by TxDOT and Federal agencies that are final. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for these projects are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to an assignment agreement executed by FHWA and TxDOT. The actions relate to various proposed highway projects in the State of Texas. These actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the projects.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that FHWA will submit the collection of information described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on February 7, 2019. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

This action updates the controlling agency information for restricted area R-2101, Anniston Army Depot, AL. This is an administrative change to reflect the current air traffic control (ATC) facility tasked with controlling agency responsibilities for the restricted area. It does not affect the boundaries, designated altitudes, time of designation, or activities conducted within restricted area R-2101.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the inner skin of the lap splices, at the lower fastener row, is subject to scratch cracks that may interact with widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires a general visual inspection (GVI) of certain lap splice inspection areas for any repair common to the fuselage skin lap splice dual frequency eddy current (DFEC) inspection areas, repetitive DFEC inspections of certain lap splice inner skins for any crack, and applicable on-condition actions. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) will hold a public hearing on May 22, 2019, on railroad demurrage and accessorial charges. The hearing will be held in the Main Hearing Room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, located at 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC, near the Board's headquarters building. Representatives of Class I carriers are directed to appear at the hearing, and other interested parties, including shippers, receivers, third-party logistics providers, and representatives of shortline railroads, are invited to appear.

This action proposes special conditions for Airbus Model A330 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is seats with inertia locking devices. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Department is amending various provisions regarding its aviation economic regulations to eliminate any further remaining obsolete provisions and correct outdated statutory references. This final rule aligns with the Department's retrospective regulatory review initiatives to modify, streamline, or repeal regulations that are obsolete or out-of-date.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant a limited 5-year exemption to the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) of American Trucking Associations (ATA) to allow certain alternate methods for the securement of agricultural commodities transported in wood and plastic boxes and bins and large fiberglass tubs, as well as hay, straw, and cotton bales that are grouped together into large singular units. The Agency has determined that the use of certain alternate cargo securement methods will likely maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than the level of safety achieved without the exemption. This conclusion is based on the results of a comprehensive test program conducted by FMCSA in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Trucking Association.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant SmartDrive System, Inc.'s (SmartDrive) application for a limited 5-year exemption from 49 CFR 393.60(e)(1) to allow an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) camera to be mounted lower in the windshield than is currently permitted. The Agency has determined that the placement of the SmartDrive ADAS camera lower in the windshield area would not have an adverse impact on safety, and that adherence to the terms and conditions of the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the regulation.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Safran Aerosystems (formerly Zodiac Aerospace Services) life jackets. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of defective welding on certain life jackets around the inflation system. This proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the affected life jackets. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.